A to Z - Networking

Earlier this month author Robison Wells (Variant) wrote a great post about marketing that also touched on networking. He said it was a rant, and it was, but I think it was a good rant. Rob's day job for many years was marketing, and he has a lot of good information in the post, so I highly recommend that you go read the whole thing. But I want to share this from the post:

"So, let’s try to hammer one thing into our heads. If get nothing else from this blog, get this:

When you see the term “social networking”, ignore the word “networking” and focus on the word “social“. Some people act like Facebook and Twitter and blogging are a chore, and if you have that attitude, then you’ll always hate social networking. But I don’t see it that way. I log into Twitter the first thing every morning to see what my FRIENDS are talking about, and so I can join the conversation. And a lot of these friends are people who I’ve never met in real life. Some are fellow authors. Some are readers. Some are just fun people who I’ve met and built a relationship with.

Yes, that took time, and in those early days when I had few Twitter followers, it wasn’t as much fun. But it’s definitely worth the investment. Now, I feel like I always have someone to talk to, or someone to hear a joke from, or someone who has something insightful to share. It’s like hanging out with your friends all the time.

It’s not a friggin’ chore. It’s a delight. It’s SOCIAL.

And if you don’t like Twitter, then blog. Build your SOCIAL network there, and interact with your commenters. Or on Facebook. Or on YouTube, or Google Plus, or Friendster, or whatever-the-heck else. It doesn’t matter which platforms you chose. Just chose something, and have a good time. Be social. Be fun. Be interesting.

You’re a writer, for crying out loud. If you can’t be fun or interesting for ten minutes a day then maybe you’re in the wrong business."

How do you feel about social networking and how it relates to marketing your books? Is it just a huge burden or are you having fun?

And the Winners Are . . .

The winners of my two copies of

Variant

by Robinson Wells

are

  Abby Fowers

at

Something to Write About

and

Robin Weeks

If you ladies will email me at donnakweaver(at)gmail(dot) com

and send me your mailing addresses, I'll get these off to you.

Congrats.

I have everyone confidence you'll enjoy this read.

NaNo Update

I did it! As of this posting I have 51,434 words and the end of the book is in sight.

Last Day for Book Giveaway

I've still got those two copies of Variant by Robison Wells.

Click here for details.

This book would make a great gift, and it won't even cost you anything.

Thanksgiving and the Book Giveaway

Book Giveaway Reminder

It's not too late to get in on my giveaway of two copies of

Robison Wells'

Variant

Click here for details.

A Day of Thanks

It's been a tough three years. As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this week I'd like to take a minute and express my gratitude. My list is hardly all encompassing, but these are a few things I'm thankful for.

• Being married (28 years in January) to a wonderful man. When one of my betas told me the epilogue in my adventure romance showed the love interests still too into each other, I had to smile. I hadn't realized I'd based some of my my hero's more romantic characteristics after my hubby.
• Six amazing children. Being a mother changed and enriched my life in ways I could not understand until I'd experienced it. There's truth in the trite little saying that motherhood has a way of proving that your heart really can beat outside of your body. For all the anguish these smart and talented individuals gave us while they were growing up, all I can say is: what a ride. And we did it together.
• Seven (soon to be eight in December) grandchildren. Oh. My. Heck. Why didn't someone tell me how dang much fun being a grandmother would be? I'd have skipped the parent thing and gone right to Nana right away! All the fun with only a little of the responsibility!
• When so many people don't have a job, I do. I'll never be rich working for municipal government but I work with wonderful people, and I like to think what I do makes a difference.
• Belief in something bigger than myself.

Do you have any "attitude of gratitude" traditions in your family?

Book Giveaway - "Variant" by Robison Wells

Last week I participated in the book bomb hosted by author Larry Correia for the book Variant by Robison Wells. It gave me a thrill at the number of my friends who participated as well.

Why?

First, because it was a good cause. But second because I really enjoyed this book. You can read my review here.

Even though I already owned a copy of the audiobook and gave away a paper copy for Rachel Harrie's Campaign, I ordered two more copies, intending to give them away here.

Here's what you have to do to be entered into the drawing for the first copy (chosen randomly):

1. Follow me (if you're not already a follower).
2. Comment in this post that you'd like to be entered.
3. Tweet about this giveaway and encourage others to participate (you'll have to leave a link, sorry).
4. Facebook about this giveaway and encourage others to participate (you'll have to leave a link for this, too).

Since I'm approaching the big 500 follower mark, I've decided to link one of the books to that. I will put the names of everyone who does all the above AND blogs about the giveaway. Please provide me with a link to your post.

On black Friday I will do the drawing for both books.


On a side note, my hubby and I are driving to Wyoming for my uncle's funeral tomorrow, and I'm nervous. Years ago, on my way to visit them for Christmas, I was riding with another college student and we hit a patch of black ice. We nearly went over a cliff, but the driver's quick responses got us into a snow bank instead. I've never been comfortable driving in canyons since and especially not in bad weather.

And, to be honest, hubby's driving scares the crap out of me. His reflexes are great, but he's one of those driving multitaskers. I usually read to him when we drive, so I don't have to watch. It's better for my nerves and definitely better for our relationship.

So if you're prayin' folks, I wouldn't mind being included in yours. If you're not, positive vibes would help.

Have a great weekend.

I hope I'm here.

ETA: No trip to Wyoming. My cousin called to say they were forecasting 100 mph winds in the canyons.

I SO wish I could apparate.

Mother of all Book Bombs

Author Larry Correia is doing a book bomb today, November 10th. You can read the details on Larry's blog here.

What's a book bomb? Larry explains it:

What is a book bomb? Well, Amazon has its own bestseller list. It is calculated hourly and you are given a sales rank based up on how you stack up against the other six million books on there. It is some sort of strange rolling average algorhythm, but what it comes down to is, the more books that are purchased during that particular time frame, the higher you rank. The higher you rank, the more of their top 50 or top 10 lists you show up on. The more of those you show up on, the higher you go, the more attention you get, the more books you sell.

Who's it for?

Robinson Wells
You can check out his blog here.

What's the book?

This is from my post on October 19th.

But I just finished listening to Robison Well's book Variant. Oh, my freakin' heck! I LOVED it! Kept me right on the edge of my chair all the way through. Crisp writing, lots of action, but it really got me into the characters, which is a big deal to me.


From amazon:

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong. 

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive. 

Where breaking the rules equals death. 

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

You so have to check out this book.


I'm just sayin'!

This is a great cause and an excellent book to be pushing. One of my sons struggled with anxiety attacks a few years ago. It's a miserable thing to experience.

Amazon link to Variant:  http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=monshuntnati-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0062026089&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr

I've ordered to more copies that I'll be giving away in the next couple of weeks (continental U.S. only--sorry). I've already purchased the audio and given a hardcover of it as a prize for the Third Campaign.

I've got a favor to ask. If you were thinking of buying this book, I strongly encourage you to do so today. Whether it's for yourself or as a gift for the upcoming gift-giving season. Not only is the purchase for a good cause, it's a great read. 

If you're not in the position to make a purchase, I would ask that you tweet, Facebook, email, and whatever else to get the word out about this cause.


Thank you!!

"Variant" by Robison Wells

I'm not posting today. Just in case you're confused because it's not Friday.

But I just finished listening to Robison Well's book Variant. Oh, my freakin' heck! I LOVED it! Kept me right on the edge of my chair all the way through. Crisp writing, lots of action, but it really got me into the characters, which is a big deal to me.

From amazon:

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong. 

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive. 

Where breaking the rules equals death. 

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

You so have to check out this book.

I'm just sayin'!